“We’re a couple. We’re in love. I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us," she told the magazine, revealing that they first met in July 2016. "It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours. But we’re happy. Personally, I love a great love story.”

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Meghan On The Inequality She Has Faced

Meghan Markle

22 Mar 2017

It is a love story that has gripped the world, with not always the best intentions. Last year, Prince Harry took the unprecedented step of releasing a statement through Kensington Palace, asking the media to relent in the "abuse and harassment" of Markle and saying that "a line has been crossed". For Markle's part, she has an unruffled approach to the attention she has received since news of her relationship went public, revealing that she doesn't read the newspapers - not even when it comes to her role as Rachel Zane in hit show Suits - as it's just "noise".

The Duchess Of Sussex: Style File

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“It has its challenges, and it comes in waves - some days it can feel more challenging than others,” she said. “And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.”

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“I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it’s really simple,” she continued. "We’re two people who are really happy and in love. We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people’s perception. Nothing about me changed. I’m still the same person that I am, and I’ve never defined myself by my relationship."

The Prince and Princess of Wales introduced the world to their second son, Prince Harry, who was born like his elder brother at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

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September 16 1987

Waving to photographers on his first day at nursery school.

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September 15 1989

On his first day at the Wetherby School in Notting Hill.

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October 25 1990

At St. Paul's Cathedral with his mother and brother.

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November 1991

A family portrait by Lord Snowdon, which appeared in Vogue.

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April 13 1993

On a family day out at Thorpe Park.

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August 16 1997

An official photograph of the Prince with his brother and father, during a trip to Balmoral.

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September 3 1998

On his first day at Eton College.

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March 29 2002

An official portrait of the Prince, his father and brother during a skiing trip in Klosters.

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May 12 2003

Prince Harry in his Eton School uniform.

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November 27 2003

A portrait of the Prince taken during his gap year spent abroad.

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April 09 2005

At the wedding of his father and Camilla Parker Bowles.

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May 13 2005

With his brother during The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association Parade in Hyde Park.

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April 25 2006

The Prince travelled to South Africa to launch the charity Sentebale, in memory of his mother. The charity's name means “forget me not” in the language of Lesotho.

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July 1 2007

With Kanye West at Wembley Arena following the concert in memory of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

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March 1 2008

Playing rugby during a break from duties in the Helmand province in Afghanistan, during his second tour of duty with the British Army.

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May 17 2008

At St George's Chapel in Windsor following the wedding of his cousin Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly.

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July 11 2008

The Prince visited the Lesotho Child Counselling Unit in Maseru, Lesotho, to continue his work with the Sentebale chairty which supports orphans and vulnerable children in the region.

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June 18 2009

At RAF Shawbury, Shrewsbury, where the Prince took party in military helicopter training.

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June 17 2010

With his brother and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho at the Semongkong Children's Centre in Lesotho.

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June 17 2010

With his brother during a visit to the Mamohato Network Club for children affected by HIV at King Letsie's Palace in Maseru, Lesotho. The brothers made a joint visit to the southern African nation.

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June 19 2010

At an Football Association reception in Johannesberg with England team ambassador David Beckham and Prince William.

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March 29 2011

With his Walking With The Wounded team on the island of Spitsbergen - situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole - during their last days of preparation before setting off to the North Pole.

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April 29 2011

He was best man at the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. The brothers arrived at Westminster Abbey together ahead of the service.

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July 2011

At the wedding of Zara Phillips to Mike Tindall.

December 19 2011

At The Sun's Night of Hero Awards with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

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March 03 2012

At Government House in Nassau, Bahamas, on the third day of his 10 day tour of Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Brazil.

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March 06 2012

With Usain Bolt at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, during his solo tour.

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May 07 2012

He spoke at the Atlantic Council's Annual Awards Dinner in Washington.

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January 21 2013

At Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, during his four-month tour as an Apache attack helicopter gunner.

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February 26 2013

He visited pupils at the Kannanel Centre for the Deaf in Lesotho, Africa.

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February 27 2013

The Prince attended a fundraising gala dinner in Johannesburg, which raised money his charity Sentebale.

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April 26 2013

With his brother and sister-in-law at the Warner. Bros Harry Potter Studio, where they took part in a tour.

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May 11 2013

Playing sitting volleyball with the UK team during a visit to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

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May 12 2013

He took part in a cheerleading display at the football training centre inside the US Air Force Academy base in Colorado Springs.

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May 20 2013

He joined his grandmother, the Queen, at the opening day of the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show. The pair paid a visit to the Sentebale Forget Me Not garden, designed by Harry.

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June 16 2013

Playing polo alongside his brother at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire.

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June 16 2013

Meeting an excited young fan at the polo.

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June 22 2013

At the wedding of Melissa Percy and Thomas Straubenzee at St. Martin's Church in Alnwick

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August 3 2013

Playing polo in the Audi Cup Challenge in Ascot.

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August 17 2013

He visited Angola to raise awareness for landmine clearance priorities - a cause that was close to the heart of his mother.

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October 6 2013

He was taken on a tour of Sydney Harbour on the HMAS Leeuwin during his first official visit to Australia.

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October 6 2013

Meeting crowds out to greet him during a visit to Sydney.

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March 07 2014

He gave a speech at the inaugural WE Day UK event at Wembley Arena in London.

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May 15 2014

He sent his first ever tweet at the launch of the Invictus Games, during an event held at the top of the BT Tower in London.

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June 10 2014

At the 50th anniversary screening of the film Zulu at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

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June 15 2014

The royal family were out in force for the Trooping The Colour to celebrate the Queen's birthday.

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July 5 2014

He travelled to West Tanfield, Yorkshire, to celebrate stage one of the Tour de France.

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September 8 2014

He met Invictus Games team captains ahead the opening of the games.

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September 11 2014

At the Invictus Games with his father and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

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September 12 2014

Watching the Invictus Games athletics at Lee Valley Track with his brother and father.

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September 12 2014

He took part in a wheelchair rugby game during the Invictus Games.

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September 13 2014

The Prince met with competitors following a game of wheelchair basketball during the Invictus Games at Queen Elizabeth Park.

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September 14 2014

He was presented with a football shirt ahead of his 30th birthday the following day while at the Invictus Games.

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September 14 2014

The Prince with Ellie Goulding, backstage at the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony.

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September 14 2014

Backstage at the Invictus Games Closing Ceremony.

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October 20 2014

The Prince playing touch rugby against schoolchildren during a teacher training session at Eccles RFC. Prince Harry is a patron of England Rugby's All Schools Programme.

October 30 2014

Prince Harry in front of the poppy bus after meeting supporters of the Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day appeal at Buckingham Palace.